Thread cutter and gripper



y y T154 G. K. HARRHS ET AL THREAD CUTTER AND GRIPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. l4 1951 INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 20, 11954! G. K. HARRIS ET AL ,684,U85

THREAD CUTTER AND GRIPPER Filed Aug. 14. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 III HI INVENTOR m. 1'" k 0.9 mm? ATTORNEY R L m m H G Sm m n R m A w U July 20, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 14, 1951 1 N VEN TORS TTOR NE Y July 1954 G. K. HARRIS ET AL THREAD CUTTER AND GRIPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 14, 1951 INVENTORS K Hc/ v-r ATTORNEY July 20, 1954 G. K. HARRIS ET AL THREAD CUTTER AND GRIPPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 14 1951 11VVENT0R13 Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES THREAD CUTTER AND GRIPPER George K. Harris and Bosley E. Wilson, Baltimore, Md.

Application August 14, 1951, Serial No. 241,742

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an improvement in a thread cutter and gripper for use on a loom, and particularly to the application of an electrical circuit to the gripper to stop the loom.

A Stafford thread cutter to which the invention is adapted is generally used in a Draper loom. The thread cutter-gripper electrical circuit has been placed in the circuit with the warp stop motion of the loom. These warp stop motions are well-known in the art as being operated by electro-magnets and illustrations are found in the patents to: Osgood, No. 1,011,237, December 12, 1911, Bruneau, No. 1,690,921, November 1 28, and La Rocque, No. 2,485,533, October 18, 1949.

In operating the Draper loom the bobbins are changed in the shuttles when the bobbin is nearly empty, the feeler being intended to be set to always operate the bobbin changing mechanism before the filling is completely exhausted on the bobbin. The thread cutter is intended to enter the shuttle box and cut the filling less than two inches outside the eye of the shuttle and the exhausted bobbin is then intended to fall into a receiving box and pull out the thread remaining in the shuttle. The gripper, simultaneously with the cutting, is intended to grip the end of the weft and hold it so that it will not be pulled back onto the cloth and it is usually held until several picks have been made by the shuttle containing the newly inserted bobbin. If for any reason the knife misses the filling or the gripper fails to grip and hold the filling either because it is severed and not caught or because it is not severed by the knife, imperfect cloth results.

It is the object of the instant invention to stop the loom when the combined cutter and gripper are moved forward and when the gripper fails to grip and hold the filling upon the closing of the gripper.

There are at least two varieties of cutters and grippers and this invention has been illustrated as applied to both. It will be apparent that it may be applied to other types of cutters and grippers than the Stafiord cutters illustrated in the drawing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a Stafford cutter employing this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof, showing part of the mechanism mounting the cutter on the loom.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view at the beginning of the filling cutting and gripping operation.

Figure 5 is a similar view immediately after the cutting has taken place and the end of the filling is gripped.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the projection of the knife toward the filling for cutting and the relative position of the electrical contact in the gripper.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the filling out and gripped.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view substantially on line 88 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a sectional fragmentary view on line 9-4} of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a similar view when no filling has been gripped.

Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a loom showing the instant stop motion device connected with a conventional warp stop motion device.

Figure 12 is a plan view of a modification of the knife of Figure l embodying the instant invention.

Figure 13 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of the modified gripper blade.

Figure 15 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the adjacent cutter and gripper blades.

Figure 17 is a side elevational View of the unmodified gripper blade with the insulating sheet applied thereto.

Figure 18 is a perspective view of the modified knife and gripper just prior to cutting and gripping filling.

Figure 19 is a similar view after the cutting and gripping has taken place.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary sectional view on line Zii-Zfi of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a similar view when no filling has been gripped.

In the drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The combined cutter and gripper is mounted on a bracket 1 having carriage 2 sliding in ways 3 to and fronrthe shuttle box. The cutter or knife has blades 3 and 4 mounted on bolt 5 held fast in the bracket.

The gripper blades 6 and l are likewise mounted on bolt 5 and the cutter and gripper blades are held resiliently together on the bolt 5 by means of spring washer 8. Adjacent blades 3 and 6 of the cutter and gripper respectively are held together by pintle 9 riveted in blade 3. Both of these blades have a large opening [6 between their pintle 9 openings and their bolt 5 openings so that these two blades may pivot about bolt 5 through a small angle. Pin II is riveted in the bracket l and holds blade 4 of the cutter against movement and passes through openings ID in blades 3 and 6, permitting their movement, it then passes into yoke i 2 in gripper blade 1 so that it is held firmly on bracket i against any movement relatively thereto.

A lever [3 with upper and lower fingers l4 and I5 thereon pivots around pintle 9, the fingers of which contact. insulation it mounted parallel to and similarly to gripper plate '5, under washer 8. This insulation extends beyond the border of the blade '1 above and below so that the fingers Id and I contact only the insulation, this is clearly shown in Figure 8. The fingers then form fulorums to move the pintle base, blades 3 and 6, up or down upon movement of the lever.

Pin II is insulated from blade I by fiber ring ll. Blade 1 has an enlarged opening at its pivot point on bolt 5 in which insulation ring I8 is placed to insulate it from the bolt. The gripper blade 6 is fiber, and therein an electrical contact it which passes part way into cutter blade 3 as shown at 20. These two blades move always together, being held by pintle 9. The end of the contact as it projects from blade 5 toward blade I, is fiush with the surface of the blade 6. When blade 7 is closed on blade 5 with nothing between the two an electrical contact is established between blade 1 and contact i9. Contact l9 grounds the current through the machine. Insulation IG has a contact 2! thereon which is in contact with insulated blade 7. Blade I therefore forms one electrical contact which may contact the other contact iii to complete a circuit. When a filling section 22 is placed between the knife and gripper blades as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and when the adjacent cutter and gripper blades 3 and 5 are moved in unison toward closed position as shown in Figure 4 the filling takes the position shown in Figure 4 just prior to cutting and the position shown in Figure 5 just after the cutting. As

shown in Figure 5 the forward end of blade "I 5 and insulation i8 is moved to the right, bent, in relation to the mounting on the bracket 1 to make room for the filling between the two gripper blades. This is clearly shown in the enlarged offset portion of the blade "I and insulation It in Figure 5. When the filling is gripped as shown in this figure, blade I is held from contact I9 by the filling and the circuit is not closed. As the blade 'i approaches closed position and approaches contact with contact l9 it is sprung i away by the presence of the filling so that the contact is not made. In the perspective View Figure 6 the relative position of this contact iii, in relation to blade I, is further illustrated.

A small voltage current source 23 passes' through a solenoid 24 to contact 2| and is grounded in a machine on the other side. Also contact I9 is grounded in the machine as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. A switch 25 may be placed in the circuit if desired. As shown in Figure 9 the circuit is open when the grip is closed upon a filling section and as shown in Figure it is closed and the solenoid actuated when a filling has not been gripped.

The conventional solenoid operating warp stop motion is operated by either the forward or rearward movement of the lay. In the form illustrated in Figure 11 the end of the loom 26 has therein a lay 2'! moved back and forth on swords 28 and has a shipper lever 29 which starts and stops the loom. The warp stop motion energizes solenoid 24 the core of which is connected by link 36 to knock off 31, which when it is lifted, is contacted by knock oif bunter 32 on the lay. When the knock off 3! is not lifted, the loom continues its operation. When it is lifted the hunter 32 on the lay Zl throws the lever 33 forward and the shipper handle 29 back to stop the motion of the loom.

The circuit of the instant invention is connected with the Warp stop motion solenoid 24 so that this stop motion will be actuated by either the warp stop motion or the gripper stop motion of the instant invention. The leads from the solenoid 24 for the warp stop motion are shown at 3e and those for the present invention are shown at 35.

The Stafford cutters are made in two forms, the one above illustrated having a fiber blade 5 for one of the gripper blades. They are also made with both gripper blades being steel. The fact that both blades were steel was their only difference before this invention. When the Stafiord cutter having both gripper blades steel is modified for current contact making as in the instant invention, it may be constructed as shown in Figures 12 to 21 both inclusive. In these figures only the parts differing from those heretofore illustrated will be given new numerals.

The two steel gripper blades 36 and 3] are pivooted on bolt 5 and held on bracket I by spring spring washer 8. Back of the gripper section of blade 31, that blade is cut away as illustrated at 38. A fiber insulation section 39 is mounted to pivot on bolt 5 and is held by pintle 9 in the same manner as gripper blade 33 and knife blade 3. It also has an enlarged opening 40 therein through which the pin ll passes. Blade 3'7 also has therein an insulating ring 4| to insulate it from bolt 5. Likewise pin II has insulation ll thereon to prevent contact between the blade 31 and pin H. The forward gripping end of blade 3? is preferably curved slightly inwardly as shown at 42 toward the other gripper blade 39 and the cut out portion 38 is just sufficient to allow the points of the blades to firmly contact when the blades are brought together in the absence of filling. An identical insulating member IE is used in this modification having an identical contact 21 thereon contacting with blade 37, blade 36 being grounded through the machine.

In this modification as illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, in the presence of filling 22 the cutter and gripper blades come together and after the cutting, the gripping blades are separated as shown in Figure 18 and when the blades are so separated no current passes between the two gripper blades, blade 3? being completely insulated from the rest of the knife and its operating parts. The springing outward of the forward end of gripper blade 3'. and insulation i8 is illustrated in Figure 20 and the contacting of gripper blades 31 and 38 at their points, in the gripping region, is illustrated in Figure 21. The closing of the contacts in Figure 21 lifts the knock off 3| in exactly the same manner as in the previously described modification to stop the loom. Similarly the presence of the filling between the blades so separates them as to prevent the elevation of the knock off when the filling has been properly seized by the gripper as illustrated in Figure 20-.

It will be apparent that other modifications of the invention may be made and various changes may be made in the modifications without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A filling gripper stop motion for use in a loom having power means to drive the loom, a shuttle having a bobbin therein with filling thereon, means to replace a substantially empty bobbin by a filled bobbin and a knife and gripper to aesaoss the gripper, one or" the gripper part of said circuit, and to co cuit upon its closing to he loom to stop the loom, electrical contact means in s circuit, in and between the gripper bias tioned adjacent the griopin position of ti to open the circuit, when the gripper open and when the gripper is closed upon the filling and to close the circuit when the gripper closed in the absence of the filling, to stop the loom.

2. A filling gripper stop motion use in a loom having power means to drive the loom, shuttle having a bobbin therein with filling thereon, means to replace a substantially empty bobbin by a filled bobbin a knife and gripper out the filling on the empty bobbin and grip the end of the filling, the gripper having gripper blades, and comprising electric circuit in the gripper, one of the gripper blades forming part of said circuit, and to connect the circuit upon its closing to the loom drive means to stop the loom, electrical contact means in said cir cuit, in and between the gripper blades, means to insulate said contact means from closing the circuit when the gripper is open and when the gripper is closed upon the filling, the contacts being positioned adjacent the gripping position of the blades to close the electric circuit when the gripper is closed in the absence of filling, to stop the loom.

3. A filling gripper stop motion for use in a loom having power means to drive the loom, a shuttle having a bobbin therein with filling thereon, means to replace a substantially empty bobbin by a filled bobbin and a knife and gripper to cut the filling on the empty bobbin and grip the end of the filling, the gripper having gripper blades, and comprising an electric circuit in the gripper, one of the gripper blades forming part of said circuit, and means to connect the circuit upon its closing to the loom drive means to stop the loom, electrical contact means in circuit, in and between the gripper blades, means to insulate one of the gripper blades from the rest of the gripper when the gripper is open and when it is closed upon the filling, the contacts being positioned adjacent the gripping position of the blades, to close the electric circuit when the gripper is closed the absence of filling, to stop the loom.

4. A filling gripper stop motion for use in a loom having power means to drive the loom, a shuttle having a bobbin therein. with filling there on, means to replace a substantially empty bobbin by a filled bobbin. and a knife and gripper to cut the filling from the empty bobbin and grip the end of the filling, the gripper having grpper blades, and comprising an electric circuit in the gripper and means to connect the circuit upon its closing to the loom drive means to stop the loom, one of said blades being of insulating fibrous construction, an electrical contact in said circuit and in said fibrous blade, near the gripping end thereof, means to insulate the other of said blades from the rest of the gripper, said other blade being in said circuit, said contact being positioned to contact said other blade only when the gripper is closed in the absence of filling.

5. A fill ng gripper stop motion for use in a loom having power means to drive the loom, a shuttle having a bobbin therein with filling there- 0 hi. by a filled bobbin and a izniie and gripper to cut the filling on the empty bobbin and grip the or of the filling, the knife having a pair of blades, and gripper having a pair of blades, one of the blades of the knife being adjacent and ex nding parallel with one of the gripper blades, i "ljacent blades acting in unison to perform their cutting and grioping of the filling, the gripper blade adjacent the knife blade being of insul" fibrous construction, and comprising electric circuit in the gripper and means to cot the c cult upon its closing to the loom r we to stop the loom, an electrical conin said circuit and in said fibrous blade near the gripping end thereof, means to insulate the other gripper blade from the rest of the gripper, i other blade being in said circuit, said con- 3 positioned to contact said other blade h i only when the gripper is closed in the ace of filling.

6. The stop motion of claim 5 in which the contact in the fibrous blade is electrically connected to the adjacent knife blade.

7. The stop motion of claim 5 in which the contact in the fibrous blade is substantially flush with the fibrous blade surface adjacent the other gripper blade.

3. A filling gripper stop motion for use in a loom having power means to drive the loom, a shuttle having a bobbin therein with filling thereon, means to replace a substantially empty bobbin by a filled bobbin and a knife and gripper to cut the filling on the empty bobbin and grip the end of the filing, the gripper having gripper blades, and comprising an electric circuit in the gripper and means to connect the circuit upon its closing to the loom drive means to stop the loom, insulation material extending between and moving in unison with one of said blades, said insulating material terminating adjacent the gripping section of the blades, a projecting gripper section on one of said blades extending toward and coacting with the other of said blades around said insulation, to form a contacting surface with the other blade in the absence of filling and a gripping surface therewith in the presence of filling, the surfaces of said blades contacting in the absence of filling upon closing the gripper forming contacts in the electric circuit to close the circuit to stop the loom in the absence of filling therebetween, means to insulate one of said blades from the rest of the gripper when the gripper is open and when it is closed upon the filling.

9. In combination with the electro-magnet of an electro-magnetically operated warp stop motion for a loom, having a bobbin transfer and a filling cutter and bladed gripper, an electrical means correlated with the gripper and electromagnet of the warp stop motion to actuate the magnet to stop the loom upon operation of the gripper and upon its failure to grip the end of the woven filling during the bobbin transfer, one of the gripper blades forming part of the circuit for the electrical means.

.teierenccs Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,892,062 Lindsjo Dec. 27, 1932 1,956,487 Breitschadel Apr. 24, 1934 2,365,106 Pugh Dec. 12, 1944 2,444,285 Doss June 29, 1948 

